Taunton man charged with drug possession

Tuesday

Jan 21, 2014 at 4:35 PMJan 21, 2014 at 4:38 PM

Charles Winokoor Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter @cwinokoor

TAUNTON — A Taunton man with no known address was arrested and charged with drug possession, after police said he abandoned a buddy who had just overdosed while parked the wrong way in the drive-thru lane of a CVS on Monday afternoon.

Jose Luis Diaz, 54, was arrested on charges of simple possession of a Class A drug — heroin, and a Class B drug — suboxone, the latter of which is prescribed to treat opioid addiction.

Police said they received a call just after 11 p.m. from an employee at CVS at 284 Winthrop St. That employee, they said, told them that she went outside after noticing the late-model Pontiac Grand Am parked in the wrong direction.

When she knocked on the car's window, the passenger, later identified as Diaz, reportedly began to shout, got out and fled.

According to paramedics, the driver appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. One of the paramedics urged caution because of a hypodermic needle she told police she saw in the car.

Police said they confiscated the drugs and other items, including a folding utility knife and a charred spoon, in the car's floorboard.

Police said they caught up with Diaz at the McDonald's next door carrying an empty Burger King bag. Diaz allegedly claimed he'd been shopping at the Dollar Store before walking to McDonald's to get something to eat.

Police did not charge the driver with a crime. Massachusetts is one of about a dozen states that has adopted a 911 Good Samaritan Bill which eliminates the possibility of drug possession charges in the event that someone reports a victim who has overdosed and needs medical attention.

It does not, however, exempt anyone from being charged with drug trafficking.